Foldable ironing board



Oct. 18, 194.9. J. J. FOGLIO FOLDABLE IRONING BOARD Filed Oct. 23, 1946 1 TTORNEJ IN 5 N TOR Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE IRONING BOARD James J. Foglio, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application October 23, 1946, Serial No. 705,078

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a foldable ironing board and has for its object to improve upon and to simplify the construction of ironing boards so that a strong, substantial and rigid support for the ironing operation is provided and the ironing board with its supporting legs may be folded together into a compact structure, convenient for packing into a valise or bag for use in travelling, and for convenient storage in a minimum of space at home. 7

A further object of my invention is to provide an ironing board of which the sections may be folded upon each other with the ironing pad innermost so that the pad will remain practically dustless during storage.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rigidly supported ironing board in which there is sufllcient room between the supporting legs so that the person ironing may occup a sittin position with his legs below the board.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a rigidly supported ironin board in which the supporting legs are adjustable in height to position the board at the best height for the particular user while the legs rest on the floor or on an elevated surface, such as a chair or table, and in which the board may be positioned level even though the floor or elevated surface is not level.

A still further object of my invention is to provide supporting legs for an ironing board so positioned that the legs provide a maximum clearance for work encircling one end of the board and extending lengthwise of the board.

A specific embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of my foldable ironing board collapsed for Packing or storage;

Fig. 2 is a top view, partially broken away, of the board of my invention extended for use;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the board of my invention extended for use; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the extensible legs employed in the ironing board of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, my ironing board is composed of two portions, I and 2, of which as is customary portion I has its free end more 3 rounded than that of portion 2. The two portions --have rectilinear opposed transverse edges in which are positioned a pair of bar-top hinges I8, pivotally connecting the po tions to each other. Hinges I8 are placed inwardly from the lengthwise edges of both board portions and are flush with the upper surface thereof, which upper surface is covered With the usual pad, not shown. A bayonet I9 is fastened to the bottom of board I and extends beyond the transverse edge of the board in the form of a slit 20. On the bottom surface of board 2, a threaded pin 2| is mounted in such location that when the boards are aligned in the working position, pin 2I falls within the slit 2!] and extends below it. The wing nut 22 is threaded on pin 2| and after opening and align-. ing the boards I and 2 about the hinges I8, the nut 22 may manually be threaded down the pin onto bayonet I9, thus rigidly locking the boards to each otherin the working and aligned position.

Preferably as close to bayonet IS on the underside of board I as manufacturing ease will permit, an angle II is mounted centrally of the lengthwise edges of the board, the angle having an integral side member I2 extending parallel to such board edges. By pin I3, mounted inside member I2, the square cross-sectioned, upper leg 4 is pivotally connected to board I. An eye I0 is carried by leg 4 and, in the folded position of leg 4, partially enters a convenient recess in the bottom of board I (Fig. 1). enter a hollow leg 3, between the closed bottom of which and the lower end of leg 4 compression spring 5 tends to move legs 4 and 3 relative each other so that leg 4 is as far out of leg 3 as the spring can force it. The threaded angle bolt 6 mounted in the upper portion of leg 3 above the uppermost position of th lower end of leg 4 as determined by spring 5 as shown, or even still further up on the leg, serves to clamp the legs at any adjusted position. Hollow leg 3 is provided with a plurality of diagonally extending leg members 1 from the upper region of the leg outwardly and downwardly to connect with the cross member 23. The cross member 23 is so disposed as to extend transversely the board I, thus resultingin a wider, steadier and almost non-tipping support; and to retain such disposition I make the legs 3 and 4 of square cross-section, but obviously any other shape which prevents rotation of sleeve leg 3 about leg 4 is equally satisfactory.

Angle II is so mounted on board I that the vertically depending portion of such angle is nearest the edge about which board I is hinged; In folding the leg 4 pivoted thereto at I3, it is possible only so to pivot the leg that all of it lies below board I, that is, in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 3. Hence, when extending the leg to set up the board, it is necessary to provide a stop, in the form of removable pin I4, in side member I2, When pulling the leg from its 'iolded Leg 4 is adapted to 3 down position, pin I4 is removed from side member l2 and is restored after the le has been pivoted beyond the hole in the side member for receiving the pin. To prevent the loss of pin 14, it may be attached by a chain or otherwise, not shown, to board I. A hook attached to the bottom of the board is positioned so as to be engageable with eye I!) on leg 4, thereby holding leg 4 tightly against pin M. In such hooked position, the leg assembly is so po itioned that its tres member 23 is at a greater horizontal distance from the hinged edge of the board than pin f3,

whether leg 4 is within or almost without hollow leg 3.

An identical leg assembly, comprising u per square leg 4, hollow square leg 3, spring 5 side leg members 1 and cross member 23, is" pi'iVotd at the upper end of leg 4 to angle I iattache'dto the bottom surface 6f board 2. Angle l5 has aside member I6, parallel to the lengthwise edges or the board 2, in which pin H pivotally supports leg 4. The angle 5 is attached to board 2 at a distance from the free end of the board 2 which is approximately equal to the distance from the hinged end of the board I at which angle uis attached to that board. The vertically depending pothole of anew I5 is suchthat the leg 4 attached thereto has but umited motion in the clockwise directiori (Fig'. 3 The leg assembly pivots under board 2 that, providing leg 4 is as fair in hol fort his a as it will go; he part of the leg asset-1 bit" extends as far as the hinged end or heard 2; Near the free end of the board 2 is an eye 8 car fy'i'ng hook e'iigageabl'eflwith eie Hi on l'g- 4 of this a's's'mbly when leg 4 strikes aglifist the a pending portion of angle l5. In" this hooked the e assembly is po'sitionedsothat his cross lfienlber 2a is at a greaterh oriz'ontal disf tests from the hinged end of the board than is is [1. Beth angle n andarigle is may, instead of being as shown in the drawing, sateen ra s-- versely across the boards almost to the' length wise edges thereof, in this way adding to the nod-tipping stability of thebdard. I

,The height at which the extended ironing than; If} is supported may be adjusted easing up on bolts 6 in the leg assemblies, permitting tlfe required relative motion of the legs underthe in'fiu once 0; the internal spring, and then ti'ght ening bolts 6. Each leg assembly ma be adjustedto 2td-ifierent height, either to provide a levelironi'ng board when the supporting surface is not lev el; or to incline the board as the operator may find convenient.- v A It is to be understood that I have shown but; one specific embodiment of my inventionand that modifications of details are possible WithOUt' departin from my invention.

1 A foldable ironing board composedof two ironing board sections hinged to each other along" the opposed: transverse edges, nie'a'ns' on the lower surface of the board sections for lock'idg' the seetions to each other when the sections are aligned with each other, a first leg support on the lower surface or one or the board sections; a fiium distance from the hinged edge of the sock iron; at first he assembly pivotabl in such seaport, means for locking the first leg assemlily parallel the section, a seo'fi'd' lg support on" the lower surface or the other" of the eart shtitrons at a distan e frofn the rtee edge or t at sc'fid'rf substantially equalt6 the d staste or the first-its suppcrt from the hinges easeor the on board section, and a second leg assembly pivotable in such second support.

2. A foldable ironing board comprising a first board member, hinging means at an end thereof, a first leg member pivotally supported on the lower surface of the first board member, a first fixed stop for determining a maximum rotation of the first leg member in the direction away from the-lower surface of the board member of soniwliat mdre than iiin'ty' degfs,- a first means for locking the first leg against the first stop when the leg has been rotated to the stop, a second board member attached to the hinging m'afis and i'btatable from the position of superimposition on the first board member through 180 degrees to be aligned with the first board member, h seems for locking the first and second board members to each other when so aligned, a second leg member pivotally supported on the lower surface of the second board member, a sec'on'd remote-hie stop which 0h rir'foval' terrnits rotation of the second 15;; r'nefhbrf up to as: proirirnately' ninety degrees flbfi the low'r' six-'1" face of the'sc'ir'id board and on repl'alcn'i'rit with th second leg member rotated therebyor'rd per: ml 'of a counter-rotation of the seeshe leg riieifii her to' predetei'hlified degree only, and iii-sans for locliifig the sect-its leg member agahist the replaces second step.

3. A foldable ironing board in accordance with claim 2 n which each reg hr hlhet is indpefid entl'y' adjustable in length and has to 10th the leg ni'eniber atthe'ad'jtr'std Ieiist'h.

4. A .foldable ironing t a-rd comprising two board sections of substant'iiall s equall r'igth", a hinged connection th'efebetweri permitting of their relative rotation from being mutually s'u perimposed to being mutuali y aiigha meahs ts: r'at'abl' when'the sections are aligned to'loclitl'iem to each other in such position, a first'lg assfiib ly piyotable about a fir's't oint lot 'rsiitrace of one section from a position smile the tipn to a position approirim atel tersearenas the su rhceethe first phmt' being at first -s tance from the hing'ed connectionso that the'lg assembly its position parallel the section does not ex'tejmr as far as the hinged dhheetihhj, a first lh hih rheahs' adaptatie to mck' th'e" first 1eg' assent-1 either pat iiei te the section or it a position soniwliat less than prpen'dlicuiaf there: to; the lbck'ii'ig means beingtether/she td perrhit pivotihg thdfiist' res as'se'rnbly in the director; away from the" section serrate, a stdt'id leg as s'embl'y pivotablfe' about a se 'oh'dliomt oii'the partner the section to pss'ittoh somewhat thyohd the perpendicular to th'' serrate at the: ond point,the point being eta secure distance from the free edge opposite the hinged edge of the Said other shhst'ahtiany eduat tie the first'distanc', she a ses' a idtihfig me hs' dttstable to lock the second lg as's'er'fibly in its" ply otd position somewhat betcha sai'd perpendicular to the surface at the s'ec'ohd' point:

5. A foldable ironing board comprising a hiri'g, two there sections" of substantially ediitti iierrgfth ehhhetee to each other by the-hinge and scatter o be folded sta t each other in overiaspih' tiofi httin h ssin use with Si} or the septic-ts e which the hammersatheist/heir in ir'tmh g juxtaposed 1h dve l'atphtg teittthe, a sufifi itirig" ts 'tvjtstangv ates-thee to eatsseetith' and individual thereto the or the sup:- porting legs beiiig' pivotal'ly att'aichd fiar' the hinged edge of one section and the other of tire supporting legs being pivotally attached near the free edge of the other section, the length of each leg being such that when it occupies a position substantially parallel its section its free end does not extend beyond the section, the one section and each supporting leg being rotatable only about the hinge, respectively, in relation to the pivotally attached section, in the same direction to a maximum position which is the position in use for ironing, and individual means for looking the board section and each leg in its respective maximum rotated position.

6. A foldable ironing board comprising two ironing board sections of substantially equal length hinged to each other along the mutually opposed transverse edge of each, means on the lower surface of the board sections for locking the sections to each other when the sections are aligned with each other, a first leg support on the lower surface of one of the board sections at a minimum distance from the hinged edge of the one section, a first leg assembly pivotable in the first support, means for locking the first leg assembly parallel the one section, a second leg support on the lower surface of the other board section at a distance from the free edge of that section substantially equal to the distance of the first leg support from the hinged edge of the one section, a second leg assembly pivotable in the second support, the one section being swingable about the other section only in the direction which is the same as the direction in which each leg assembly is swingable in relation to the respective sections when opening the board for ironing use and when collapsing the board for storage.

JAMES J. FOGLIO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 242,804 Vanstone June 14, 1881 1,573,691 Eichberg Feb. 16, 1926 1,669,566 Larsen May 15, 1928 1,737,494 Dreckmann Nov. 26, 1929 

